Advertising apparatus.



LJ. SLEEPER.. ADVERTISING PPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29, 1909.

vPatented Feb. 6, 1912.

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uUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH J'. SLEEPER, OF MOORES, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR T0 UTILITYADVERTISING COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

ADVERTISING APPARATUS.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH J. SLEEPER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Moores, in the county ofDelaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Advertising Apparatus.v of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in advertising apparatus, and hasparticular relation to apparatus of this type in which a plurality ofsigns are caused to be successively moved to a display-exposureposition.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of thistype in which a flexible carrier will have a path of movement normallyguided to prevent excessive swaying, the carrier being provided with aplurality of inflexible display frames, the guides for the carrierserving to retain the display surfaces of the frames in a positioncorresponding to or parallel with the plane of the path of travel of thecarrier while the surface is being displayed.

A further object is to provide in a device of this character a guidewhich serves not only as a guide for the carrier, but in addition foreach of the display frames carried by the carrier, during predeterminedlengths of movement of the frames. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a traveling endlesscarrier having its path of tra vel controlled at fixed points therein, aplurality of display card frames supported by and located wholly abovethe carrier and movable therewith throughout its path of travel, andmeans for switching the display frames while the lat-ter are movingabout such fixed points.

A further object is to provide, in a device of this type, an endlesstraveling carrier positioned below and adapted to support one or moredisplay card frames throughout the path of travel of the carrier, thecarrier having fixed points controlling the direction of such travelpath, the display card frames being positively guided on their uppersides against a swaying movement of the frame during frame movementsextending substantially throughout the display exposure portion of itsmovement, the swaypreventing means terminating short of the commencementof the movement of the frame around the curved travel path, and toprovide means located wholly withinthe carrier travel path Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1909.

Patented Feb. 6,1912.

Serial No. 525,348.

for guiding the frame into its straight path after rounding the curvedpath.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a structure of this typewhich is simple and elficient in operation, durable in construction,neat and attractive in appearance, and which is relatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understoodas the in vention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists inthe improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts in each of the views,-Figure 1 is a vert-icalsectional view of the casing or housing for the device, said viewillustrating the device in elevation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of thestructure shown in Fig. 1, the top of the housing being omitted to moreclearly `illustrate the relative arrangement of the parts. Fig. 3 is avertical, transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of the parts shownin Fig. 1 to more clearly illustrate the manner in which each displaycard frame is mounted. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 on an enlargedscale and showing one end only of the structure.

The present invention is of the general type shown in United Statespatent granted me April 26, 1910, No. 956,206, in which the principalfeature consists in connecting the display card frames to the carrier atpoints approximately midway of the length of the frame, the connectionbeing a pivotal one, and providing a single guide on one side of thepath of movement of the frame, the guide cooperating with one or theother end of the frame to prevent pivotal movement of the frame duringthe period when it is passing through the display-exposure portion ofits path of travel, the purpose being to provide freedom of movement ofthe frame, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing excessivedrivng power as well as restricting wear on the frame to the minimum. Tothis extent the present invention embodies that referred to in saidapplication, to provide which I employ a housing 10, approximatelyUsshaped in cross section, and of a length 'exceedingthat of thedistance between the extremes of the path of movement of the endlesscarrier hereinafter referred to, said housing being provided above andbelow the top and bottom planes respectively of the display card frames,as indicated in Fig. 3, the upper housing being designated as 101.Mounted within said housings and located substantially midway betweenthe vertical walls thereof are provided strips 11 and 11a respectively,said strips dividing the interior of the housing into two longitudinallyextending channels 12 and 12a, the channel 12 being provided for therecept-ion of the endless carrier, the latter being in the form of asprocket chain 13 mounted on sprocket wheels 14, which provide theextremes of longitudinal movement of the carrier, said sprocket wheelsbeing spaced from the ends of the housings and supported in suitablemanner by one or bot-h of the strips 11 and 11a. Movement of the carrieris provided from a suitable drive shaft 15 operated by a motor (notshown) through gear wheels 1G, this form of driving the carrier beingsimply shown as an example, the manner in which the carrier is drivenbeing iinmaterial.` The housing 10gt is supported by means of one ormore rods 17 each having its lower end carried by the strip 11, theupper end passing through the strip 11a and having a screw-threadedconnect-ion with such strip, this rod or rods serving to prevent theupper housing 10a from sagging.

18 designates a display card frame, preferably rectangular, and formedin a manner which will permit of the ready insertion and removal of adisplay card therein. Each frame is pivotally connected to the carrierby means of a pin 19 connected to a link of the sprocket chain, saidframe being formed to receive the pin at a point approximately midway ofthe length of the lower edge of the frame, the pin and frame beingcomplementally formed to permit a relative movement therebetween. On theopposite side of the frame t-he latter is provided with a pin 20projecting above the frame and have ing its outer end provided with a.roller 21 which rides within the channels 12a.

The construction thus far described, while differing from that set forthin the patent heretofore indicated, will provide substantially the sameresult, each frame 18 being carried along by reason of its connectionwith the sprocket chain 13, the upper end of the frame being supportedagainst lateral movement by reason of the presence of the roller 21within the channels 12a. This provides for a central .pivot for eachframe, and since the strips 11 and 11a do not project inwardly adistance suflicient to prevent pivotal movement of the frame, theretaining of each frame in a predetermined path is provided by thevertical walls of the housing 10 without the necessity for providingadditional means for preventing the normally free pivotal movement ofthe frame on the carrier.

In devices of this type it is the general purpose to provide arelatively narrow structure which may fit within the restricted Spaceafforded within a street-car, and for this purpose the carrier has itslongitudinal paths of travel in opposite directions relatively closetogether, thereby rendering it impossible, where an inflexible displayframe is used, to provide for a movement of the frame correspondingstrictly with the. path of travel of the carrier, the principlegenerally employed being to permit the frame to pass beyond the sprocketwheels and be switched from one to the other channel while being carriedaround by the sprocket chain. The present invention is also of thistype, differing mainly in the fact that the channels for the rollers 21terminate short of the curved path provided by the sprocket wheels, thusleaving the upper portion of the frame unsupported against swayingduring the shifting movement of the frame. By eliminating the coutinuoustrack usually provided in devices of this character and which wouldcause the roller 21 to follow a strict path throughoutthe travel path, Ieliminate the liability of a binding of the parts such as results byattempting to force the roller 21 through a curved path having the formof a restricted channel a result produced by positively moving theopposite side of the frame at its point of connection with the carrierchain. While the elimination of this channel tends to permit a swayingmovement of the frame at its upper side, this swaying movement is not asdeleterious to the structure as the constant tendency of the parts tobind in the manner indicated. Of course, it will be understood, thatwhere two rarrier chains are provided, one above, and the other belowthe frames, this binding effect is eliminated; the provision, however,of the double supporting means in the form of carrier chains, renders.the structure exceedingly expensive, a feature which it is the object ofthe present invention to avoid as much as possible. The swayingmovement, however, is restricted to a great degree in the presentinvention by the means presently described and which also provide for anabsolute certainty of the roller 21 being carried into its properchannel after the curved path has been rounded. The construction ofparts for providing these results will now be described.

The strip 11a is of a lengt-h less than the distanceA between the axesof the sprocketwheels 14, the ends of said strip being spaced a distancefrom such wheels sufiiciently great to permit of the placing in positionof the guiding member 25, said member being in the form of the springhaving one end secured in a kerf in the strip 11, and vbeing reversiblybent, as at 26, to provide spring portions in contact with the innerfaces of the vertical walls of the housing 10a, the member 25 graduallyleading from its point of connection with the strip to its point ofcontact with the wall of the channel on that side of the housing whereinthe frame is moving forward, the spring on the opposite side of thepoint 26 being curved toward and extending in contact wit-h the outerwall of the opposite channel, thereby providing, between the sprocket14k and said spring, a mouth into which the roller is forced by reasonof the curvature of the spring. The point 2G is spaced from the sprocketwheel 14 a distance sufficient to permit the wheel 21 to pass by duringthe switching movement of the frame. In use, the frame during itsforward display movement gradually carries the roller 21 into the spacebetween the spring and the channel wall and finally to the point ofcontact of spring member and wall with the result that the member 25 isforced out of Contact with the wall to permit the roller 21 to pass, thespring during this movement serving to retain the frame against swayingwhich might result from the shortening of the strip 11L heretoforereferred to. The continued movement of the frame serves to cause itslower pivot to be 'carried around the sprocket wheel, during whichrounding the roller has become freed from contact with the spring,whereupon the latter passes back to its contact with the channel wall,and thereby places an obstruction against a return of the frame to thechannel from which it has just emerged. As the pivot of the frame iscarried around, the upper side of the frame is unsupported againstswaying, but as the distance between the walls is small, the swayingwould not be great, and hence would not affect the structure. When,however, the framepivot has passed around the curved path, the roller 21will be forced into its channel by the curved face of the member 25should the swaying movement carry the roller out of its proper path. Aswill be readily understood this particular form of switching memberabsolutely prevents a movement of the frames in a reverse direction,each channel having at its opposite ends a barrier against a movement ofthe frame to reverse the direction of travel.

To coperate with the spring member 25, I provide the lower housing 10with a suitable strip 30` secured to one of the vertical walls andextending obliquely across to the opposite wall of the housing, therebyproviding a riding face for the rear end of the frame as the latter isrounding the sprocket wheel, the frame passing into contact with theinclined face 31 when the pivot point of the frame has reached itsfarthest point, andas it is carried forward the rear end of the framepasses in contact with said face and rides therealong, causing theopposite end of the frame to be moved toward the proper wall 10a toprevent liability of two frames moving in opposite directions fromcontact-ing with each other,

To provide against swaying movements of the frames outwardly, Ipreferably elnploy suitable filler blocks 35 at the bottom of thecasing, these blocks being of a height substantially equal to thethickness of the carrier chain, thereby substantially continuing theplane of the top of the carrier beyond the carrier path, and therebyinsuring against a tilting of the display frame downward after the framehas passed into the space at each end of the apparatus. A tilting effectin the opposite direction will not affect the operation, since suchtilting would carry the roller 21 in a direction toward the member 25and thereby bring said roller into its proper position with respect toits channel.

The display card frames are preferably provided with leaf springs 40 atpoints which permit of contact between their outer faces and the sidewalls of the housings 10 and 10a during the movement of the framestherein. These springs may be positioned either at the top or at thebottom or at both points as may be desirable, or the springs on one sideof the frame be made at the bottom, while those on the opposite sidesmay be at the top. The springs are secured to the frames in any suitablemanner, the securing point being at the front of the springs. Thesprings may be positioned either at the forward or at the rearward endof the frame, or, if desired, the frame may be provided with springs atboth ends, or the arrangement may provide for springs at one end on oneside and at the other end on the opposite side.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. In advertising apparatus, an endless carrier having its travel pathon lines spaced from each other, a display card frame carried by andmovable with the carrier, the point of carrier support beingapproximately midway of the length of the frame, guide channelspositioned at the side of the frame opposite the carrier for supportingthe frame against lateral swaying, said channels being of a length lessthan the length of the travel path, and normally-stationary meanslocated within the travel path and capable of acting as a shiftingelementfor positively repositioning the frame in its proper path upontermination of its movement through the unsupported travel Zone.

2. In advertising apparatus, an endless carrier, a display card framecarried by and movable with the carrier throughout its travel path, thepoint of carrier support being approximately midway of the length of theframe, and means positioned on the opposite side of the frame from thecarrier for .preventing swaying movement of the frame during a majorportion of its travel, the frame being unsupported laterally in eitherdirection at said opposite edge against swaying during the remainingportion of its travel, and means located within the travel path andcapable of acting as a shitting element for repositioning said oppositeedge of the frame in its proper' path upon the termination of itsmovement through the unsupported travel Zone.

3. In an advertising apparatus, an endless carrier, a display card framesupported by and movable with said carrier, a roller mounted at the sideot said frame opposite -the carrier, said roller and the connectingpoint of the frame and carrier being located in axial alinementsubstantially7 midway of the length of the frame, .a guide channel forsaid roller having one of its walls projecting into the path of pivotalmovement of the frame, the yother wall of the channel being positionedwithout such pivotal path, said latter wall being of a length less thanthe length of the travel path of the carrier whereby said trame will beunsupported against swaying movement during a predetermined portion otthe trame travel, and means for repositioning said roller in its channelupon the termination of its movement through the unsupported travelzone.

4. In advertising apparatus, an endless earrier having its travel pathon lines spaced from each other, a display cardframe carried by andmovable with the carrier throughout its travel path, the point ofcarrier support being approximately midway of the lengt-h of the frame,guide channels for supporting the edge ot the frame opposite the pointot carrier support, said channels being interrupted in the direction ofthe length thereof to provide a travel Zone within which said oppositeframe edge is tree to sway laterally, and a switching element positionedand operative within said Zone and normally obstructing the travel pathformed by the channels for shifting said 'unsupported edge into thesucceeding guide-channel.

In advertising apparatus, the combination with an endless travelingcarrier, and

spaced rotatable members for controlling the travel path ot the carrier,ot a display card frame carried by and movable with said carrier, meanstor normally supporting the edge of said frame opposite the point ofcarrier support against swaying movements intermediate said rotatablemembers, said means terminating adjacent said members whereby said edgeof the frame will be unsupported when adjacentsaid members to form atravel Zone within which said edge is tree to sway, and a. positioningelement tor the trame located within t-he travel zone and operativesuccessively on the frame before and after the passing of the latteraround a rotatable member in its path of travel, said element beingcapable of acting as a shitting element for the trame.

6. In advertising apparatus, the combination with an endless travelingCarrier, and spaced rotatable members for controlling the travel path ofthe carrier, of a display card frame carried by and movable with saidcarrier, means for normally supporting the edge of said frame oppositethe point of carrier support against swaying movements intermediate saidrotatable members, said means terminating adjacent said members wherebysaid edge ot the frame will be unsupported when adjacent said members toform a travel zone within which said edge is free to sway, and apositioning element for the frame located within the travel zone andoperative successively on the tame before and after the passing of thelatter around a rotatable member in its path ot travel, said elementbeing capable of acting as a shifting element for the frame, saidpositioning element normally extending across the path of travel of thetrame intermediate the rotatable members and form# witnesses.

JOSEPH J. SLEEPER. lVitnesses A ARTHUR L. BRYANT,

J. GRANvILLE Mnrnns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

